International chronometer



De@ 30., l941 A. M. BRAATEN 2,268,239

h INTERNATIONAL CHRONOMETER Filed Feb. 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARTH M. /eAATEN BY ATTORNEY.

Dec. 30, 1941. A, M, BRAATEN INTERNATIONAL cHRoNoMETER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1958 M R.T 0M 2 MB WM. m l

IW A 7 m. T 7 2 2 www@ Patented Dec. 30, 1941 INTERNATIONAL CHRONOMETEB Arthur M. Braaten, Riverhead, N. Y., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application February 23, 1938, Serial No. 191,864

' (Cl. 58-43) y 9 Claims.

This invention relates to` the art of reckoning time and deals more specincally with a chronomef ter or .international time clock which gives the standard time in` any part of the world, The dial and the mechanism of the clock are so arranged as to show directly standard time and l Greenwich mean time in any part of the world,

and also the local time of the place at which the clock is located.

An object of this invention is to simplify and improve chronometers, so that in addition to the local time, a direct reading of standard time and Greenwich mean time in any part of the world may be readily obtained.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved` chronometer with a twenty-four hour movement and to associateV therewith a rotating lgeographical scale and a rotatable scale indicatingl Greenwich mean time.

4Because of the rotation of the earth on its v axis from west to east, sunrise takes place at any given point earlier'than at a place to the west of that point. This means that all places east of a given meridian are ahead in time, while those west arevbehind. Since the earth makes one complete rotation in twenty-four hours, it takes exactly one hour for the sun to make a transit across the space between the meridians of two places separated by 'iiiteen degrees in longitude. By international agreement, the world has been Vdivided into time zones, each ilfteen i degrees of longitude in width. The time in each zone is the same as that of the meridian passing .through its center, and the times in adjacent lzones diiler by one hour. All time is reckoned from the prime meridian of Greenwich, the time on that meridian being termed Greenwich mean time, or G. M. T. Most of the countries of the world follow the international time system, but

" make useof conversion charts. f This procedure is both inconvenient and unsatisfactory, because ofthe time required in making the conversions and the great possibility oi making errors. Since it is desirable to be able to determine accurately th'e time in any part of the world with the least amount of effort, the present invention was l brought forth to give this time directly from the dial, thus doing away with the necessity of using tables and conversion charts. It is therefore an objectv of this invention to provide a more accurate and useful means of determining the time in any part of the world.

TheI present invention may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, which shows one specific embodiment of the same. f

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l is a iront elevation showing the chronometex` face;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation showing another embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a partial section of Fig. 3;

F18. 5 is a partial section of a further embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a detail section showing a modication of Figs. 4 and 5: and

Fig. 7 is a detail section showing another modiiication of Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, I .is a stationary, twenty-four hour time dial and is to be used in connection with a timepiece having a. twenty-four hour movement. This dial is suitably marked to indicate the hours 1 to 12 a. m. and also 1 to 12 p, m. Extending over to the face of dial I are hour hand l and minute hand 5. The latter hand extends slightly beyond the hour hand. Both hands are operated by any suitable .time clock mechanism 6. Hands I and 5 are arranged to indicate on dial I the local time at any place at which the timepiece is to be used. Located within dial I is a ring-like disc or annulus 2 which may be rotated about an axis passing through its center, by any suitable manual means, such as for example, a nger engaging depressed portion l. Ring 2 is marked to sh'ow Greenwich mean time and is arranged so that it can be manually set to show the G. M. T. corresponding to the local time at any given place.

^ Within the center of the chronometer there is 40 located a movable disc l which normally travels with hour hand 4 and is equipped with' a disclike clamp or friction clutch t which, by means of a plurality of spring members 9, applies through a plurality of fingers I0 friction, so as to engage the underside of dial I. The lower end of lingers I0 are retained in place by means of nuts II. A depressed iinger engaging portion 'Ia is provided preferably on the outside of dial I, so as to allow its being set manually in any desired position with respect to hour hand I. The face of dial l is laid out in sections corresponding vto the international time zones, each section covering fifteen degrees of longitude. In the center of the disc 3, sections are marked in 55 the degrees longitude, east and west of Greenwich, of the meridians of the time zones. In each section are indicated the principal country, or countries, of the corresponding time zone. Since some countries use a time which differs from standard time by one-half hour, these countries are' indicated on the movable disc 3 as being small sections formed from an equal portion of each of two adjacent standard time' hour sec-Y tions. For protection against dust, moisture, etc., the entire mechanism is preferably enclosed within a suitable casing I2 with a glass face I3: The embodiment shown by Figs. `3 and 4 isin general similar to Figs. 1 and 2, except that dial 3 is positively secured to the hour hand 4' by meansof a threaded pin .Il 'and washer I5,l the dial 3 having located on its surface twenty-four section to receive pin Il. This arrangement does date line, from east longitude to west longitude,

being the' same all over the world. At the same time it is 1:00 a. m. in Alaska, noon in middle Europe, 4:30 p. m. in'India, 8:00 p. m. in Japan, 8:30 p. m. in central Australia, and 10:30 p. m. in New Zealand. While it is 11:30 p. m. of a certain day in British Samoa, it is :30 p. m. of the new day in New Zealand as the international date line is situated between these two countries. This isbecause Samoa lies. between the 180th meridian and midnight on the clock dial. In crossing the 180th meridian, the international a day is lost; in crossing from the opposite direction, a;,day is gained. When the midnight holes equally spaced in the center of eachA hour line is passed by the pointer on the dial, there is, ofcourse, also a change in the date. In going around the dial clockwise, it is one date from the 180th meridian to midnight, and another date,

yaway with the friction drive or clutch 0 and its c associated elements 9, I0, II. Ring 2 is supported by means of a plurality of equally spaced g posts I6 which support a track I1.,A The underside of ring 2 has spring clipsjl8 that grip in or the following day, for the restof the way around the dial.

Furthermore, in Fig. l'of the drawings, only one-hour divisions' are shown'v on dise I. It

VVshould vbe understood, however, that divisions of frictional engagement track I`I,ring I being fixed Y to the casing I2b by any suitable means.

The other embodiment shown by Fig. 5 is sim@- ilar toA Fig. 4, except that the rings Iv and 2 are reversed in position, that is, ring 2a is outside and ring Ia inside, a plurality of spacers and 2l securing ring Ia to case I2a by means Vof screws 22 and23. Post I6a is supported by a strip 24.

'I'he modifications to the dials shownby Figs. 6 and 7 comprise a one piece disc 25 pivoted to the hub of clock mechanism 6 to which a ringlike dial 2b is secured for rotation andretained by any suitable means, such as a lip 26, cut'and bent over from the metal of disc 25'A The cuter 1 rim portion of disc 25 vand dial 2b is marked and functions similar to members I and 2, respectively, of Fig. l. Fig. 7 shows a ring-like dial 2c located'at the outside rim portion of a' member 25a and secured thereto'by a screw 2. The dial one minute could beused on the dial." Of course, Ao n a larger disc 3v, more countries v'could be indicated in the various Zones. Countries fdiilering geria, -9 minutes.

various zones, the clockcould be arranged to indicate th'e'timein all countries as follows. The

from standard time vcould beindicatedf'thus A1- 1f it were desiredl to indicate only the more important countries in the HydrographicOiic'e of :the United v States Navy publishes a map 'showing'the timezones in colors. All countriesin the same zoneusing standard'time are uniformfin color; Thosefcountries using loc/altirnear'e colored diierentlyv and the amount of departure from standard time is indicated with then'ame of, the country. The v'ar- -ioussetions origdisc't of the present invention Acould.belcolored tocorrespond tothe time zones on the map which "they-represent It. can be seen that thiswouldmake an egrceedingly useful 25a is provided with twenty-four holes 'located' in the center of each hour section for se'curing dial 2c Yand member 25a in a desired position. Just within the inside diameter of ring-like dial 2c, disc 25a has a step-like raised portionto provide a dial surface which will lie in the same Vplane as the surface of dial 2 c. 'I'he raised portion Ic of member25a and ring-like dial 2c is marked and functions similar to members I and 2, respectively, of Fig. 1. The operation of the device is as follows: The clock is first set so as to indicate on dial I thelocal time Vof the place at which it is to'beV rotated until the time zone corresponding to the f stood that it will not be limited' to the type shown. v

arrangement. l;

`While only one embodiment of this invention lhas been described, 'it-is to loe-distinctly underv but should only be limited to such limitations ,as

location of the clock is opposite the local time reading. It is then maintained at this setting 1 and travels with the hour hand. The clock willV4 now correctly indicate the following: local time of the place at which it is located, the G. M., T..

corresponding to this localV time (which is, of course, Athe same for the whole World), and the standard time of any country using standard time. The extreme usefulness of suchja device will be readily apparent.

The drawing, as shown by Fig'. 1, has been laid out tov show how the clock dial would be set for any location using Eastern Standard Time@ When it is 6:00 a. m. in NewYork, the corresponding G. M. T. is 11:00, the G. M. 'I'. of course are clearly imposed in the appended claims.

AWhat is claimed is: l

- 1. A chronometer' adapted to indicate the standard time andGreen'wich mean time of different'lccations on the earth, comprising a stationarydial, said stationary dial having a scale f thereon with numerals representative lvof local time, 'a minute hand, an 'hour hand,- 'al-twentyfour-hour time-pieceniechansm'lhaving means to rotate said minute hand 'and said hour hand,

a -movable dial vhaving a scalezwhich is divided in sections of fteen degreesandV having located within said=sectionsrthe principal lgeographical location, or locations,-to Whichuthe said section corresponds, means coupled to said mechanism to rotate said .movablediaL anda third dial having indications corresponding to Greenwich mean time located thereon,. a casing for said chronomveter, a track secured .within saidcasing with means to move said vthirdiiial,'said third dial arrangedto move orfsail track so ast' be rotated "with respect to said stationary dial', said hour and minute hands extending over said rotatable and third dials to indicate a desired time on said stationary dial.

` 2. A chronometer adapted? to indicate .the

Vstandardand Greenwich mean time of different on the ,earth comprising astationaryy dialhaving ayscale thereonwith numerals representative of local time., gazmOYable dial" concentric Y with said stationary-dial, said movable. dial having la scale. thereon withnumerals representative ".oi'. theGreenwich mean time, said movable dial having means whereby -lt may be manually set to -showi the :Greenwich mean time corresponding to --;the .local time on said. ,stationary c lial, a thirdv dial .concentric with said stationary and movable .v

dialsasaidfthlrd dial havins a' scale thereon with minute `hand,twentyiour hour indicating mechtmrd'dials to indicate a desired time on said stanmes- 'representative ,or udlie'l'nt y geographical locations, a plurality oi' pointers, and a rotating oi pointers and said third dial, said pointers extending over said movable and third dials to indicate a desired 'time on said stationary dial.

3. A chronometer adapted to indicate the standard and Greenwich mean time of different locations on the earth comprising a stationary dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of local time, a movable dial concentric with said stationary dial, said movable dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of the Greenwich mean time, said movable dial having means whereby it may be manually set to show the Greenwich "mean time corresponding to localtime on said stationary dial, a third dial concentric with said stationary and movable dials, said third dial having a scale thereon with names representative of different geographical locations, an hour hand, a minute hand; indicating mechanism having means to rotate said hour and minute hands and said third dial, said hour and minute hands vextending over said movable and third dials to indicate a desired time on said stationary dial.

4. Al chronometer adapted to indicate the standard and Greenwich mean time of different locations on the earth comprisinga stationary dial having a. scale thereon with numerals representative of local time, a movable dial concentric with said stationary dial, said movable dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of the Greenwich mean time, said movable dial having means whereby it may be manually set to show the Greenwichmean time corresponding to the local time on said stationary dial, a third dial concentric with said' stationary and movable dials, ,said third dial having a scale thereon with names representative ot different geographical locations, 'an hour hand, a minute hand, indicating mechanism having means, to rotate said hour and minute hands and said third dial, a friction clutch located between said hour y. hand and said third dial to normally simultanesaid movable dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of Greenwich mean time, said movable dial having means whereby it may be manually set to show the Greenwich mean time corresponding to the local time on said stationary dial, a third dial concentric with said stationary and movable dials, said third dial having a scale thereon with names representative of different geographical locations, an hour hand, a

-- fmecha nism having means to rotate said plurality Y' -tionary dial.y

6. A chronometer adapted to indicate the standard and Greenwich mean timeol different locations on lthe earth comprising -a stationary dial having a twenty-four hour scale thereon with numerals `representative of local time, a

movable dial concentric with said stationary dial,

said movable dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of the Greenwich mean time, said movable dial having means whereby it may be manually set to show the Greenwich mean time corresponding to the local time on said stationary dial, a third dial concentric with said stationary and movable dials, 'said third dial having a scale thereon dividing it into sections of fifteen degrees, each section having located therein a name representative oi' a dierent geographical location, a plurality of pointers, and a rotating mechanism having means to rotate said plurality of pointers and said third dial, said pointers extending over said movable and third dials to indicate a desired time on said stationary dial.

7. A chronometer adapted to indicate the standard and Greenwich mean time of diierent locations on the earth comprising a stationary dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of local time, a movable dial concentric with said stationary dial, said movable dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of the Greenwich mean timel said movable dial having means whereby it may be manually set to show the Greenwich mean time corresponding to the local time on said stationary dial, a third dial concentric with said stationary and movable dials, said third dial having a depressed finger portion so that it may be manually moved with respect to said stationary dial, said third dial having a scale thereon with names representative of different geographical locations, a plurality of pointers, and a rotating mechanism having means to rotate said plurality o! pointers and said third dial, said pointers extendy ing over said movable and third dials to indicate a desired time on said stationary dial.

8. A chronometer adapted to indicate. the standard and Greenwich mean time oi different locations on the earth comprising a stationary dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of local time, a. movable dial concentric with said stationary dial, said movable dial having a scale thereon with numerals representative of the Greenwich mean time, said movable dial having means whereby it may be manually set to show the Greenwich mean time corresponding to the local time on said stationary dial, a third dial concentric with said stationary and movable dials, said third dial having a scale thereon with names representative of diil'erent geographical locations, an hour hand, a minute hand, indicating mechanism having means to rotate said hour and minute hands and said third dial, a friction clutch having a plurality oi.' spring members, said spring members located between said hour handand said third dial to normally simultaneously rotate said third dial with said concentric with said stationary and movable dials, said third dia-l' having a pluralityV of apertures therein and a scale thereon with names repreto show the Greenwich mean time corresponding to local time on said stationary dial, a third dial sentative of. diterent geographical' locationsl an hour hand, a'minute hand,- indicating mechanism having means to rotate said hourv and minute 'hands and said third dial, a pin member engaging one of said apertures' and said hour hand to simultaneously rotate said third dialv with said hour hand, said hour and minute hands extending over said movable and third-*dialsitov indicate a desired time on said stationary dial.

ARTHUR Mr BRAA'I'EN. 

